SAN ANGELO, Texas - I have had several requests to investigate two projects currently under way in San Angelo. One is a large construction project on Arden Road west of FM 2288, and the second is the remodeling in progress at the former Lack's furniture store on Sunset Drive.

There is considerable foundation work in progress on a very large lot on Arden Road. The lot is owned by Globe Energy Services, and I spoke with Globe's Construction Consultant Bay Hecht who told me that this will soon become Globe's trucking and well servicing facility.

Globe Energy Services is an oilfield services company with operations in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas. Globe was formed in 2004 in Snyder, and has since expanded to include over 25 locations throughout the Permian Basin, the Mid-Continent, and East Texas.

Hecht anticipates trucks will begin using the facility within three weeks and that full construction completion will be in six to eight months. When completed, an office will house 10 to 12 employees, and the shop and yard will service approximately 20 trucks and eight well servicing rigs. They expect to hire 40 to 50 employees who will work from this facility.

The former Lack's furniture store will soon become the new home of Big Lots. Store Manager Vince Fields tells me a grand opening is planned for the new location at 4002 Sunset Drive on November 17.

"We will be starting from scratch in the new location and everything will be new, right down to the display shelves," Fields said. "The new building will give us much more square footage and allow us to expand our product offerings. Our furniture section alone will more than double in display space and merchandise."

Starting this week, Big Lots will begin holding clearance sales on all store merchandise in the College Hills location. Sales will start with 30 percent discounts, and will continue to increase throughout the weeks until all merchandise has been sold.

Store hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.